ADB- funded LECO-UOM Microgrid Project launched in partnership with DIMO and DHYBRID

Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) together with the University of Moratuwa (UOM) has launched a pioneering pilot project on Microgrid with a grant assistance of $ 1.8 million (approximately Rs. 325 million) from Asian Development Bank (ADB).
DIMO, together with the German specialist DHYBRID, has been selected for the supply of comprehensive Renewable Energy Microgrid consisting of power generation and storage, a model which can be scaled up for uninterrupted power distribution for customers across the country, the companies’ said in a media release. 
The pilot project contains a commercial Microgrid and R&D facility which will be used as a research platform for the studies in nature of renewable energy integration and smart grids. The data obtained from the commercial Microgrid as well as the equipment and simulation environment will facilitate these R&D functions towards meeting the predefined research targets. 
The UOM has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with LECO in establishing the “LECO Smartgrid Laboratory” and the facility will be maintained by LECO for the first 20 years. South Asia Energy Division of ADB with Ministry of Power and Energy   conceptualised this intervention as a part of its continuous assistance to expand clean energy development in Sri Lanka. LECO, as one of the pioneering distribution utilities which is always willing to embrace these new concepts, was selected as the instrument to realize this concept. The UOM premises was selected to be the site for the pilot cross-sectoral project due to the many advantages it offers. UOM will provide the rooftops and laboratory location and a set of targets are to be met by UOM post the commissioning. The initial investment and capacity development support are financed through ADB’s Clean Energy Financing Partnership Facility.  
“ADB has been a long-term partner in Sri Lanka’s energy sector development.  Our assistance in the clean energy, includes Sri Lanka’s first large scale 100MW wind park in Mannar, 30MW hydropower station in Moragolla and the solar rooftop credit line, among others.  Similarly, ADB has been supporting the strengthening of power evacuation from distributed renewable energy generation both at transmission and primary distribution level, in addition to its support for both supply side and demand side energy efficiency improvements. ADB is always committed to supporting Sri Lanka’s inclusive energy sector development focussing on clean energy with new and innovative technologies and solutions,” said ADB Country Director for Sri Lanka Dr. Chen Chen.
Acting General Manager of LECO Dr. Narendra De Silva said, “Microgrids are identified as a solution for many problems where it can increase the hosting capacity of the distribution network and can feed the power to the network when the grid is not available, since the excess power can be stored while storage issues like reverse power flow and subsequent voltage issues are also expected to be mitigated. Through this pilot project, LECO will seek the possibility of replicating the concept for other transformers and similar premises, to improve power supply reliability and the lessons learnt through this project will be shared internationally.”